UNCP Student Spotlight

Dr. Maria Santisteban Named President-elect of NC Academy of Science

Biology Professor Maria Santiseban has been named president-elect of the North Carolina Academy of Science. The professional organization, in its 112th year, promotes public appreciation of science, science education, scientific research and a meaningful role for science in public policy.

Dr. Santiseban, along with Dr. Lisa Kelly, organized the 110th annual conference which was held at UNCP last spring bringing together scientists and students from across North Carolina and globally.

Dr. Santiseban was elected during the 111th annual meeting of the academy, held at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh. As president-elect, Maria will preside over the academy in 2015. She has been a member of UNCP’s faculty since 2007.

The Biology Department was well represented at the meeting. Dr. Robert Poage, co-director of the RISE Program, brought nine students, who presented posters. Christopher Long and Armando Corona won awards. RISE is the Research Initiative for Scientific Advancement, a National Science Foundation-funded program to promote scientific research.

Biology Department chair Dr. David Zeigler judged presentations, along with Dr. Dennis McCracken. Also present was RISE co-director and chemistry professor Sally Vallabha. Former students, Jared Locklear and Nicholas Faulkner, now graduate students at NC State University and East Carolina University respectively, were also on hand at the annual meeting, which was attended by 350 people.